Astronomi-con Toronto 2009: Day One, Game One - Grot Mart

I played at AstroTO 2009. Lots of fun. Plenty of 40K eye candy, playing great opponents on beautiful terrain, with interesting scenarios.

I brought the Swordwind again. It's probably the last time for Astro for the next while - my Crimson Fists 1st Company (using Deathwing rules) is waiting in the wings.

It's the same list I used at Mechani-Kon a couple of weeks ago (click on the photos for larger images):



Farseer - Doom; Eldar Jetbike; Runes of Warding; Singing Spear

Autarch - Eldar Jetbike; Fusion Gun; Mandiblaster; Laser Lance

10 Dire Avengers - including Exarch with Bladestorm and 2 Avenger Shuriken Catapults
Wave Serpent - Spirit Stones; Shuriken Cannon; Twin-Linked Shuriken Cannons

10 Dire Avengers - including Exarch with Bladestorm, Diresword and Shuriken Pistol
Wave Serpent - Spirit Stones; Twin-Linked Missile Launchers

10 Howling Banshees - including Exarch with Executioner
Wave Serpent - Spirit Stones; Twin-Linked Shuriken Cannons

9 Fire Dragons
Wave Serpent - Spirit Stones; Twin-Linked Shuriken Cannons

5 Warp Spiders - including Exarch with 2 Death Spinners

Total: 1500 Points

Game One - Grot Mart

My first game was against Andrew's Daemons. IIRC, he had a Daemon Prince, a Nurgle Daemon, some smaller Nurgle Daemons, some winged thingies with melta bombs, some Blood Letters and a couple of daemonic engines of some sort. The scenario granted victory points , with 100 extra points scored for controlling each of 4 piles of loot. You could gain 200 points instead by dragging the loot to a Snotling trader in his store in the middle of the table and "Making a Deal."

With the Daemons' ability to deep strike first turn, I didn't think the Eldar would be able to grab objectives first and survive the ensuing close combats. The Eldar all started in reserve, to be able to concentrate their forces.

The Daemons had first move, and half deep stuck on or near the four objectives, which made for a steep uphill battle. Andrew played cannily. He didn't fight much with his large war engines once they showed up, instead handing off loot to them, to be safely dragged to the trader.

Best game moment: a giant war engine crawling over the market, confronting the tiny Snotling, and asking,

"Uh,...wanna trade?"



A pack of Nurgle daemons deep struck in the Eldar southwest corner. The Dragons and Spiders shot them, setting them up for a charge from the Autarch, which forced the daemons to drop their loot.



The Daemon Prince used the surviving Nurgle icon to deep strike in. The Nurgle daemons put a single wound on the Autarch. The Farseer Doomed the winged daemon, then the Banshees charged and finished off it and the Nurgle boys.



The Companions (Dire Avengers squad one) entered on the southeast quarter, combining their fire with the Blood Redeemers (Dire Avenger squad two) to wipe out the Blood Letters, but not before the latter had handed off the loot they captured.

In the end, the Daemons managed 3 trades with the Snotling, scoring 600 VPs. The Eldar managed to capture one loot pile and kill enough daemons to tie.

Result: Eldar and Daemons tied

Click here for Game Two.